Tragedy in the sewing room.
I've been a vanilla lolita for a few years, following the ideology without wearing the clothes because, to be honest, I'm rather big. Being big for so long has etched the "big girls look like crap in nice clothes" mindset pretty deeply into me. BUT. Since I've managed to drop two sizes healthily in a year I decided to reward myself with my first Lolita outfit. Since we're a little strapped for cash right now (and most of my favorite skirts don't come in my size) I decided to sew it myself.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a newbie when it comes to many established communities. The EGL, bento, costuming, and knitting communities, both online and IRL, have welcomed me warmly and made me feel as though I don't actually suck as bad as I do. I'm broke so I cannot afford the brand-name or even fan made dresses and am a novice sewer at best, my cooking lacks confidence, the costumes I make are very poor (except for accessories. Those I do VERY well), and all my knitting is uneven or doesn't fit. Those I meet scold me for doubting myself, but they don't see the problems that happen as I work. Those mistakes that I just can't ignore.
This being said, I am slowly improving on all fronts through trial and error. And error. And error again. I rarely make the same (major) blunder twice, although lesser ones tend to happen frequently.
For example, when first deciding to sew a lolita-style circle skirt to go over my old petticoat I measured very, very carefully the circumference of my waist, added ease and seam allowances, and found the radius. With my fabric folded precisely into fourths I used the "compass" method to carefully mark the cutting line. Since my desired skirt length was 21 inches, and allowing for mistakes/hemming/etc. I again used the compass to measure 22 inches and mark the cutting line.
Did anyone catch what I did wrong? That's right! I measured 22 inches from the *corner* of the fabric, which meant the fabric was cut to the size of 22 inches MINUS the radius of my waist measurement. Thus I ended up with a skirt of a scant 14 inches in length when finished. It is a micro-miniskirt with FLARE! My SO said that I am not allowed wear it in public, but am invited to wear it frequently in private!
Luckily I have just enough of the pretty black floral fabric to attempt a simpler rectangle skirt pattern to try and regain a few shreds of my sewing dignity.
I'll be making a new post with pictures soon. Once I figure out how to do it without getting ads.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a newbie when it comes to many established communities. The EGL, bento, costuming, and knitting communities, both online and IRL, have welcomed me warmly and made me feel as though I don't actually suck as bad as I do. I'm broke so I cannot afford the brand-name or even fan made dresses and am a novice sewer at best, my cooking lacks confidence, the costumes I make are very poor (except for accessories. Those I do VERY well), and all my knitting is uneven or doesn't fit. Those I meet scold me for doubting myself, but they don't see the problems that happen as I work. Those mistakes that I just can't ignore.
This being said, I am slowly improving on all fronts through trial and error. And error. And error again. I rarely make the same (major) blunder twice, although lesser ones tend to happen frequently.
For example, when first deciding to sew a lolita-style circle skirt to go over my old petticoat I measured very, very carefully the circumference of my waist, added ease and seam allowances, and found the radius. With my fabric folded precisely into fourths I used the "compass" method to carefully mark the cutting line. Since my desired skirt length was 21 inches, and allowing for mistakes/hemming/etc. I again used the compass to measure 22 inches and mark the cutting line.
Did anyone catch what I did wrong? That's right! I measured 22 inches from the *corner* of the fabric, which meant the fabric was cut to the size of 22 inches MINUS the radius of my waist measurement. Thus I ended up with a skirt of a scant 14 inches in length when finished. It is a micro-miniskirt with FLARE! My SO said that I am not allowed wear it in public, but am invited to wear it frequently in private!
Luckily I have just enough of the pretty black floral fabric to attempt a simpler rectangle skirt pattern to try and regain a few shreds of my sewing dignity.
I'll be making a new post with pictures soon. Once I figure out how to do it without getting ads.